Chapter 14

Meanwhile, the little fox had made his way again to Robotnik's place. He had to stop the mad man before he could get into the city. He didn't know how much a little fox could do, but damnit, he was gonna try.

suddenly the ground shook and Tails was grabbed and pulled down a hole

"Are you ROBO braained? What are ya doin' kid?!"

Tails flinched back at the tone of his friend's voice. He didn't sound very happy with him, and he had a right to be. The kit had left without telling anyone where he was going or what he was planning on doing. Knuckles had every right to upset with him.

"I'm trying to stop old Noisy-Mik-Badly. I gotta try and top him, Knuckles.."

""Forget it kid. We got to evacuate the city! No city, no win for Robuttnik right?"

"Right."

"Then let's go!"

"You will go nowhere!"

"Well foxy, looks like we found you at last! and our playtime was interupted so rudly!"

Knuckles snarled at the two dogs and punched sleet in the face,

"Scram kid! I'll hold em off!"

"But Knuckles I don't wanna leave you alone with them! They'll hurt you! Or take you back to Robotnik!"

"I can handle them kid. GO!"

Tails stood there for a heartbeat. He didn't want to leave his friend, but he knew that it was the only thing he could do. Sighing, the kit took off.

XXX

At the city...

"Where's Knuckles?" Fang asked concerned.

"He's holding off Sleet and Dingo.. But.. We gotta help him! I know he said he odesn't need it.. But I wanna help him! Fang, I know you're.. Umm.." the little fox didn't wanna say it. "Never mind.. Will you help me help my friend? Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaase?"

"He's an echidna kid. They wont robotisize him." fang assured the little fox.

"But what if they do? You know Robotnik robotizes everyone!"

"Because Echidnas are too tough for that. They will kill him brutally. They might even grind him up into echidna dogs to feed the robotisized robots. Either that, or turn him into echidna a la mode. But they wont robotiseze him."

"B-but, I still wanna help! I feel bad for leaving him like that!"

"No need kid. Told ya I'm an Echidna. They cant touch me even WITH only four spikes."

Knuckles twirled his fedora and chuckled as he hugged Tails.

"Yay! You're okay!" Tails cheered, hugging his friend.

"Better than that. Hey Uncle, I dug us a tunnel to a safe haven far from Robotnik. Get every fox in the ground and I'll lead us to safety."

The older fox nodded and went off gathering the rest of them together. Knuckles then led them back to his home, and Tails shivered slightly, remembering what happened the last time he and his friend where there.

"Knuckles, you sure? You know what they did last time to you and me.."

Knuckles smiled a little evilly.

"I know but now its our turn to force THEM out!"

"But that's mean.."

"SO? its the safest place I thought of...and besides, These echidnas EAT foxes, even if they are kits or not. Now Uncle, is that nice?"

"They eat US?!" Tails squeakled. "I don't wanna be eaten!"

"You won't be," the old fox said. "Besides, we need a place to stay. And if running them out gets us a place, then we do it."

"Knuckles! how nice of you to bring a peace offering!" A red echidna picked up a fox kit and ate it right in front of the mother.

Knuckles turned redder than he already was and snarled in rage. "BASTARD!"

Tails gasped. "What did that kit ever do to you, you meanie!"

Knuckles turned to Uncle. "Do something! Make 'em disappear with your magic! Something!"

The older fox nodded and chanted a spell making them disappear. Knuckles ran to the temple and stood next to the Master Emerald. He looked so regal, so dignified, that it was stupid of the cheif to deny him the right to gaurd the giant gem just because of mere exhaustion. He was clearly the one for the job.

"You can have all the red lands you want, Uncle. But I'm sorry, NO one is aloud near the Master Emerald."

The old fox nodded. "Understandable."

"Aw, not even me?" Tails questioned, chuckling.

"Sorry kid. You may look, but the penalty for touching is DEATH."

Knuckles patted the kit on the head, then put out his hand to Uncle.

"Truce between Echidna and Fox, Uncle?"

"Truce," Uncle said, shaking hands with him.